Chapter 4: The scapegoat

Once the Lord dismounted from the carriage, he wanted to help Lady An up, but his sleeve was caught by Lin Luochen.

Lin Luochen hid behind him and spoke softly, "Father! I'm scared!"

This small gesture made Lady An itch with anger, but she still showed a sad and painful expression, saying, "Luochen, are you okay?"

Lin Luochen pursed her lips and remained silent, her eyes falling on Lady An's face, but then she hid behind the Lord.

The Lord sighed and held her hand, whispering softly, "Don't be afraid! Father is here!"

The Lord led Lin Luochen into the mansion, arriving at the main hall. He sat at the high seat, while Lin Luochen sat beside him.

Down in the hall, Lady An kowtowed, her head hitting the ground with a "thud," sending shivers down the spines of those present.

But she showed no signs of pain, tears streaming down her face, "Lord, it's my fault! I wrongly accused Luochen and wanted to punish her. I will obey your decision!"

The Lord raised his eyebrows, disappointment filling his eyes, "Wrongly accused? So, it's true that you hit Luochen?"

Lady An's eyes turned red, tears streaming down. She was very tactful in handling the Lord's preferences. She used to be a tea seller from a neighboring country, but the Lord took notice of her during his visit, and she changed her identity to marry into the mansion.

Seeing her crying without saying a word, the maid kneeling beside her couldn't help but speak, "Father! Please don't blame Mother! She never intended to harm Sister. It's just that we saw Sister and a stranger embracing each other that day. Mother was only concerned about the reputation of the mansion! If the Prince blames us, our whole family will suffer!"

"Luochen, did Yun'er speak the truth?" Although the Lord had asked Lin Luochen, she didn't give a direct answer at that time.

"Yes!" Lin Luochen answered firmly!

This answer surprised the Lord and delighted Lady An and her daughter. But before they could be happy for too long, Lin Luochen looked at Lin Xueyun, "I remember that day, I was already asleep, but you woke me up, saying there was a commotion in the courtyard, and dragged me out to see, which led to the misunderstanding and the beating I received..."

"You... you're talking nonsense!" Lin Xueyun exclaimed, looking extremely aggrieved.

"Lord! Yun'er would never do such a thing since she understood etiquette and reason from a young age!" Lady An's emotions were very agitated, feeling deeply wronged.

Seeing Lady An and her daughter crying, the Lord, who usually favored them the most, also felt sorry for them. But when he saw the pained expression on Lin Luochen's face, perhaps it was her hidden injury that made her unable to bear it!

Lin Luochen caught a fleeting look of guilt in her father's eyes and her eyes turned red, "Father! Is this how you see me in your heart?"

In the past, Lin Luochen was timid and rarely spoke up even in disputes. Indeed, she didn't have the courage to act like this, but facing the tears of Lady An and her daughter, the Lord was truly in a dilemma.

"Sister, why do you falsely accuse me? Mother hitting you was also due to being misled by bad people. You didn't have a mother to discipline you since childhood, and she has treated you as her own for so many years. When has she mistreated you?" Lin Xueyun scolded Lin Luochen.

Upon hearing this, Lin Luochen's eyebrows twitched, and she stood up and went to Lin Xueyun's side.

"Smack!"

A loud slap echoed in the hall. Lin Xueyun was shocked, covering her stinging face, staring at Lin Luochen.

Lin Luochen withdrew her hand after hitting her and said slowly, "My mother is a noble lady of the Chen Kingdom, how dare you criticize her? Why did my mother leave the mansion, you all know best!"

Lady An's eyes turned red. This was not the same Lin Luochen as before! She dared to hit someone in front of the Lord! This courage was something she didn't have before!

Lin Xueyun covered her face, looking at her mother with a look of grievance, but Lady An knew that she couldn't defend herself at this time, which would only make things worse.

"Luochen, how could you hit someone?" the Lord exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Luochen knelt on the ground, crying bitterly, "Father, I did this at the risk of my life today to seek justice for my mother! I may have a lowly status, but I cannot tolerate anyone speaking ill of my mother!"

The Lord felt guilty towards Lin Luochen's mother and didn't want to discuss this matter further, so he waved his hand, indicating that the matter was settled.

With Lady An providing a way out and constantly blaming herself, the Lord's anger gradually subsided, and it made Lin Luochen realize that trying to challenge her position based on this incident alone was simply wishful thinking!

"Send her back and that will be the end of it! Just deduct two months' salary from your household allowance as punishment!" the lord said, looking at Lin Luochen. She closed her eyes, looking very weak.

"Quick! Take the young lady back to her room to rest!" the lord ordered the nanny. The nanny hurried to help Lin Luochen and escorted her out.

As they walked out the gate, she glanced back at An Shi, who had a smug look in her eyes, and Lin Luochen responded with a fierce gaze.

Once in her room and helped to lie down, the nanny knelt down and confessed, "Young lady, please punish me! When you were injured that day, I was locked in the woodshed and couldn't help you!"

Lin Luochen sat up and said, "Get up! Close the door! I have something to tell you!"

It was the first time the nanny had seen Lin Luochen so serious, so she quickly complied. Lin Luochen leaned against the edge of the bed and said, "Let's not dwell on the past. After being harmed this time, I have also come to understand. It's like I've grown up completely and won't be as naive as before!"

Tears welled up in the nanny's eyes as she heard this. "If the madam knew that the young lady had grown up after today, she would be very happy..."

Years ago, Lin Luochen's mother left because the lord fell in love with a lowly woman, An Shi, and in her pride, she left. She abandoned Lin Luochen, who was only a year old, and no one knew where she went.

"My mother will definitely be found. But before finding her, this An Shi and her daughter must be eliminated!" Lin Luochen said firmly.